Who: Venti & Friends Which: Closed log with starters inside. Where: Reverein. What: A catch all log for things with Venti for the month of September. Warnings: Tba. Most likely alcohol use.
[As promised Venti had shown up on Asura's doorstep at some random hour on some random day without saying a word of when he would actually show up. Venti is never good for being perfectly on time or perfectly late. Yet, he did show up! And Venti did find a way to wiggle a story out of Asura. One that hit Venti quite close.
Now he sits there while tapping his cheek in thought.]
That was quite the powerful story, Asura.
[And for it Venti will share some details that he knows about gods and power.]
[ On the plus side, Asura usually finishes up most of his work by evening and is typically free after sunset anyway, so it wasn't hard for Venti to pick a time to drop by and find him unengaged. It also wasn't too hard to wrangle a bottle of Devil Pepper wine out of him, and thus Venti has a drink to accompany the story Asura has chosen to tell--Not his own, of course, but rather that of some drinking buddies of his back in his own waking world.
Asura takes a sip from his cup of wine at the bard's reaction and quirks a grin. ]
A lot's happened since then, but they're all doing fine now.
I would hope so. I do enjoy a good story of kinship and battle. For him to take that lethal hit from the demon king to protect his master...! To be turned by that very corruption! The betrayal to follow! How powerful of a dialogue, indeed.
[Venti hums thoughtfully as he swirls his devil pepper wine and then sips it. He still enjoys the nice burn the wine provides down the back of his throat. So delicious. And perfect to go with such an intense story.]
You have such tales from your world. I suppose I should share one or two from mine.
[ Asura gives a snort into his cup at the flattery. He says they're "doing fine" now but in truth it's not so simple. He'd never actually met that version of Onikiri, only the one who'd been reforged after breaking apart and falling into the sea. Perhaps Venti will one day get to hear the second half of that tale--The demon king is very fond of telling that part, so Asura has heard it a few times.
As annoying as Venti can sometimes be, Asura had missed this; drinking and shooting the breeze with friends, trading stories like comrades-in-arms. ]
[ Asura sits and listens in silence as Venti begins his tale, staring out across the fields of the farmlands and giving little indication that he had picked up on that fond look. An acquaintance, perhaps? ]
As comrades and dear friends do, they tend to want to protect each other in dire times like war.
[Asura knows a bit about that, does he not?]
So, when war broke out the earth dragon did just that. He did everything in his power to help and protect the god of mountains. For the god of mountains was the strongest of all. And when you are the strongest, who protects you?
[He hums.]
The war raged on for so long that soon the earth dragon became weaker and weaker. And in his desperation, he reached out for more power to keep going and to be by the god of mountains' side always.
[Asura's expression remains placid, in quiet contemplation as Venti relays the tale. There are parallels, sure, but he won't project upon the dragon or the mountain god of Venti's story. He remains unreadable save for his glance back toward the bard when he pauses in his story--an expectant look that shows he's paying attention and waiting for him to continue. He'll hold his and questions until after the story is finished, and simply sip on his wine until then.]
[Venti takes a moment to catch his thoughts. Asura doesn't seem to have any questions yet so he smiles and continues.]
Using any power he could find soon the earth dragon grew corrupted with dark energy. Negative energy flooded his body so badly that he started to lose his sense of self. Growing deeper into the dark and desperation of his own feelings soon he could barely recognize a friend from a foe. He grew angry and violent.
[He sighs softly.]
The god of mountains could not let the earth dragon continue as he was. For as much as he wanted to save his closest companion, there was only one thing he could do to save him from a terrible fate. And that was to strip away almost all of his powers and seal him away.
Rough times in RL mean this tag is late. Sorry about that.
[Asura remains quiet as Venti continues, not letting on any kind of reaction to the details of the story. It doesn't sound like a tale that Venti had come up with on his own, likely more fact than fiction, though Asura has no way to know which details fall into which category.
When Venti pauses this time, Asura does speak up.]
The god of mountains is truly a god among gods. One with the power to change the very shape of the earth. Thus, with his power he stripped the earth dragon of all his godly energy in order to save his life. Because of the erosion the dragon felt he had to be sealed away for thousands of years should he be overcome with negative power once again...
[He sips his wine.]
A tragic ending with no real conclusion although I hear it was many centuries later that a traveler came along to help. But the moral of the story is... When you care for someone and even it it hurts, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken to keep them safe. As for your little predicament? Ehe.
[He giggles.]
It's too bad you couldn't find a god of mountains to help you.
[Asura gives a bitter huff of a chuckle into his cup of wine before finishing off the rest of it.]
You're making assumptions again. [Asura chides him, though considering his refusal to tell Venti the whole of the truth, the bard has made some very close guesses so far.]
You are. [He insists in the warning tone of an annoyed parent. Nope, not going to fall into that trap. Not yet, at least. Buuuut he supposes he can give him a bit of a hint, though.]
I sealed myself away, but the barrier does not contain me. [Asura grabs the bottle of pepper wine and refills his own cup before taking a long drag from it.] If I wished, I could leave whenever I like. The barrier is to keep other people out.
Similar stories and different details then. My point is there is some merit in finding others who have the skills and tools to help with what you're looking for.
I'm aware. [ Asura rests his arm on his knee in a lazy slouch, leaning back against the wall of the cabin. ]
I would not have asked in the journal if I wasn't looking for a solution. We may not be able to remember this dream world when we wake, but dreams have the capability to affect the waking world if the dreamer is powerful enough.
[ He's really banking on this since there's nothing in his own world that anyone knows can accomplish what he needs to. ]
Anyway, that god of mountains you mentioned. Is this an actual possibility, or does he only exist in this world as a character in a bard's story?
[It's really not fair that Asura is oh so devoted to his lost love. Venti has to pout as he lets his eyes wander over Asura's lazy position. Those nice arms are being wasted on not hugging someone or crushing someone. Him- in particular. Huff.
He takes a generous sip of his wine.]
I'll have to agree. [He sighs.] Hmmm... As for the god of mountains? He might show up sooner or later. Or perhaps he's already sulking around. I can't be too sure.
And that answer is... remarkably unhelpful. Asura also doesn't believe it for a second. ]
You who are so perceptive as to immediately suss out my true intentions when I asked about destroying gods? I can't believe you wouldn't know if someone like that was already here or not.
It's amazing how some people can use so many words while still saying nothing at all.
[ He'd be a hypocrite for calling out Venti's dodging of his question, so he won't. Instead, Asura will just take the rest of the bottle of wine and cork it before stashing it inside his robe... Though he wouldn't put it past Venti to try to fish it out anyway (his flirting has been far from subtle), so Asura crosses his arms over his chest to hold the garment closed. ]
You'll get no more until those words make a point.
[A pout appears on Venti's lips the moment the wine bottle gets corked and stolen away. He wasn't done with that...]
Oh...!! Ehehe... What kind of bard would I be if I didn't make a play of my words? Surely, you're keen enough to read them, dear Asura! Don't take the wine away... It's only in good fun.
You can have the wine back when you give me a straight answer. [ Sure, he can follow the metaphors and double-speak, but at the same time he would prefer to dispense with all the indirect euphemisms and for everyone to plainly speak what they mean... hypocrite though he is. ]
You know why I asked about destroying godly power. Would it be possible to ask that god in your story to lend his help or not?
[Venti sighs and lets out a small depreciating giggle as he leans his chin on his palm.]
I suppose if you explained the situation to that blockhead one way or another that he would help you. As stony as he is he can be very kind when he hears tragic love stories.
So you do know him. [ And more than that, Venti is familiar enough with that god to speak so casually about him. Asura suspects he's getting a better idea of just what Venti really is, but he won't make any assumptions for the time being. ]
One more question and I'll give you the wine back. Is he here or not?
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closed to asura
Now he sits there while tapping his cheek in thought.]
That was quite the powerful story, Asura.
[And for it Venti will share some details that he knows about gods and power.]
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Asura takes a sip from his cup of wine at the bard's reaction and quirks a grin. ]
A lot's happened since then, but they're all doing fine now.
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[Venti hums thoughtfully as he swirls his devil pepper wine and then sips it. He still enjoys the nice burn the wine provides down the back of his throat. So delicious. And perfect to go with such an intense story.]
You have such tales from your world. I suppose I should share one or two from mine.
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As annoying as Venti can sometimes be, Asura had missed this; drinking and shooting the breeze with friends, trading stories like comrades-in-arms. ]
Alright then, your turn.
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Hmm! Mine starts with a god. One of mountains and stone. Who could move the whole of the earth with the heel of his foot.
[He swirls the glass and looks fond for a moment. But it fades and he smiles instead.]
It also starts with an earth dragon god who called the god of mountains a dear, dear friend.
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Go on.
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As comrades and dear friends do, they tend to want to protect each other in dire times like war.
[Asura knows a bit about that, does he not?]
So, when war broke out the earth dragon did just that. He did everything in his power to help and protect the god of mountains. For the god of mountains was the strongest of all. And when you are the strongest, who protects you?
[He hums.]
The war raged on for so long that soon the earth dragon became weaker and weaker. And in his desperation, he reached out for more power to keep going and to be by the god of mountains' side always.
[Venti frowns softly.]
Yet... power always comes with a price.
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Using any power he could find soon the earth dragon grew corrupted with dark energy. Negative energy flooded his body so badly that he started to lose his sense of self. Growing deeper into the dark and desperation of his own feelings soon he could barely recognize a friend from a foe. He grew angry and violent.
[He sighs softly.]
The god of mountains could not let the earth dragon continue as he was. For as much as he wanted to save his closest companion, there was only one thing he could do to save him from a terrible fate. And that was to strip away almost all of his powers and seal him away.
Rough times in RL mean this tag is late. Sorry about that.
When Venti pauses this time, Asura does speak up.]
Is that how the story ends?
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[Venti hums dramatically.]
The god of mountains is truly a god among gods. One with the power to change the very shape of the earth. Thus, with his power he stripped the earth dragon of all his godly energy in order to save his life. Because of the erosion the dragon felt he had to be sealed away for thousands of years should he be overcome with negative power once again...
[He sips his wine.]
A tragic ending with no real conclusion although I hear it was many centuries later that a traveler came along to help. But the moral of the story is... When you care for someone and even it it hurts, sometimes drastic measures need to be taken to keep them safe. As for your little predicament? Ehe.
[He giggles.]
It's too bad you couldn't find a god of mountains to help you.
[Or can he...]
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You're making assumptions again. [Asura chides him, though considering his refusal to tell Venti the whole of the truth, the bard has made some very close guesses so far.]
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[Venti replies in a very sing song voice. Tilting his head curiously.]
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Not yet, at least.Buuuut he supposes he can give him a bit of a hint, though.]I sealed myself away, but the barrier does not contain me. [Asura grabs the bottle of pepper wine and refills his own cup before taking a long drag from it.] If I wished, I could leave whenever I like. The barrier is to keep other people out.
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Similar stories and different details then. My point is there is some merit in finding others who have the skills and tools to help with what you're looking for.
[He hums.]
If you're so certain of what you want.
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I would not have asked in the journal if I wasn't looking for a solution. We may not be able to remember this dream world when we wake, but dreams have the capability to affect the waking world if the dreamer is powerful enough.
[ He's really banking on this since there's nothing in his own world that anyone knows can accomplish what he needs to. ]
Anyway, that god of mountains you mentioned. Is this an actual possibility, or does he only exist in this world as a character in a bard's story?
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He takes a generous sip of his wine.]
I'll have to agree. [He sighs.] Hmmm... As for the god of mountains? He might show up sooner or later. Or perhaps he's already sulking around. I can't be too sure.
[What a vague answer that answers nothing.]
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And that answer is... remarkably unhelpful. Asura also doesn't believe it for a second. ]
You who are so perceptive as to immediately suss out my true intentions when I asked about destroying gods? I can't believe you wouldn't know if someone like that was already here or not.
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Venti gives a sly little smile and shrugs.]
A god's secrets are a god's secrets. But every story has a truth.
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[ He'd be a hypocrite for calling out Venti's dodging of his question, so he won't. Instead, Asura will just take the rest of the bottle of wine and cork it before stashing it inside his robe... Though he wouldn't put it past Venti to try to fish it out anyway (his flirting has been far from subtle), so Asura crosses his arms over his chest to hold the garment closed. ]
You'll get no more until those words make a point.
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Oh...!! Ehehe... What kind of bard would I be if I didn't make a play of my words? Surely, you're keen enough to read them, dear Asura! Don't take the wine away... It's only in good fun.
[He'll whine a bit more.]
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You know why I asked about destroying godly power. Would it be possible to ask that god in your story to lend his help or not?
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[Venti sighs and lets out a small depreciating giggle as he leans his chin on his palm.]
I suppose if you explained the situation to that blockhead one way or another that he would help you. As stony as he is he can be very kind when he hears tragic love stories.
[So... Yes?]
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One more question and I'll give you the wine back. Is he here or not?
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[He taps his chin.]
Perhaps just another sip of wine first to clear my parched throat...
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